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to cozen

to cozen

1 9.9
To trick someone to get their money or things
  • verb
  • /ˈkʌzən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : engañar
  • You're talking about a man concerned with our delicate ecosystem but who cozens the wholesale transfer of millions, legally and illegally, into the U.S. to further stress that ecosystem.

Examples

  • How he cozened them.

  • When he saw some old beldame deep in drink, how he cozened her.

  • I think it mean work cozening citizens of their money.

  • So, that is how he cozened you To give him shelter.

  • We condemn those now, but at the time I'm sure the preachers cozened people into thinking they were a good thing.

    Blog text (26)
  • The con artist tried to cozen the elderly couple out of their savings.

  • She managed to cozen her way into the exclusive club with a fake identity.

  • He was known to cozen clients by offering them deals that sounded too good to be true.

Synonyms

to trick
vsto cozen
326 3.5

To make someone believe something false so you can get what you want

is narrower by stressing personal dishonest gain rather than general mislead
to deceive
vsto cozen
270 3.9

To make someone believe something that is not true to get an advantage

focuses more on taking something dishonestly rather than just misleading
to con
vsto cozen
  • Informal
61 7.3

To trick someone into giving their money or things

focuses on gaining something dishonestly rather than mere untruth
to delude
vsto cozen
48 6.3

Make someone believe something that is not true

is about dishonest taking or cheating, not just creating false belief
to bamboozle
vsto cozen
  • Informal
11 8.3

To trick someone by pretending you want to help them

is similar but not limited to complex or performed schemes
to con out of
vsto cozen
  • Slang
6 8.1

To trick someone into giving you their money or other things

emphasizes taking something from someone for dishonest benefit
to diddle
vsto cozen
  • UK
6 8.9

To trick someone so you take their money or things

stresses personal gain from the cheating rather than mere falsehood
to chisel
vsto cozen
  • Archaic
4 8.9

To cheat someone out of money or things by tricking them

focuses specifically on dishonest acquisition rather than general lying
to nobble
vsto cozen
  • NSFW
1 9.9

Get money or goods from someone by tricking them

is centered on gaining advantage dishonestly rather than simple deceit
to hornswoggle
vsto cozen
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To trick someone to take their money or things

keeps the same dishonest gain focus but is more informal
to con someone
vsto cozen
  • Slang
7.7

To trick someone to get their money

is about dishonest gain rather than general misleading
to swizz
vsto cozen
  • Slang
9.9

To trick someone out of their money

is more general about dishonest gain rather than simple lying
to chouse
vsto cozen
9.9

To trick someone and take their money or things

highlights cheating for dishonest benefit rather than broad deception
to cog
vsto cozen
  • UK
9.9

To cheat by changing results or numbers to make them unfair

is broader, covering any trick used to gain advantage
to fleeche
vsto cozen
  • Archaic
9.9

To trick someone to take their money or goods

shares the dishonest gain idea but appears archaic in usage

How Deceptive

to defraud
  • Formal
40 6.9
to swindle
20 5.5
to cheat
474 1.2
to cozen
  • Archaic
1 9.9
to dupe
58 6.4
to mislead
87 3.9

Surface Forms

cozen infinitive
cozened past
cozened past participle
cozening present participle
cozens third person singular

Etymology

Cozen probably comes from Italian or French words like cozzone or cousin, because tricksters used to call people 'cousin' to seem friendly and then take their money. So, cozen means 'to cheat' or 'deceive' someone by gaining their trust.